We cannot but be
aware of the rich symbolism contained in this
scene, as the mother of Jesus is placed into
the care of the “beloved disciple” and John is
likewise placed into the care of Mary.
In this work I have John looking up into the
face of his friend and master, Jesus, who is
in the final throes of dying. John holds the
hand of Mary as he receives the last wishes of
Jesus. This is the mother who has watched her
son mature from the boy to the man. The one
who has walked and talked with him even when
others thought him mad. This was the mother
who was present during the wedding at Cana and
who ushered him into his public ministry. Here
now, she is fulfilling the prophecy of Simeon
“that a sword would pierce her own
heart.”
Even at this moment of numbing pain, the son
does not forget those he is
leaving behind. He makes sure that the one who
protected and was responsible
for his welfare during his formative years
will now be under the protection
of his trusted friend John. John was later to
resettle with Mary to Ephesus
(in present day Turkey), away from the
persecutions that would follow the
death of Jesus. Tradition has it that it was
there that John wrote his
account of the life of Jesus, no doubt
assisted by the memories of Mary.
John’s account of the events and their
possible meanings differ in many
ways from the Synoptic accounts, but in
relation to this particular event
and of these particular words spoken from the
cross the accounts match.
John, however, viewed this man hanging on this
cross in a different light,
for here in his view hung the God-man. This
man was no less than the Son
of God!
From John’s point of view the crucifixion
beggars belief; how was it
that God in his love for us was pouring out
the life of his own son? Later
on John would come to understand this
self-emptying of God as love. Love
for humanity. Love for you and me and love
for his church.
And at this moment we have the first hint
of that church.
For Mary would become the mother of the
church and the early church
would in turn confess her as the mother of
God (theotokos, which means
God-bearer) and the redeemer. By her prayers
and association with the apostles
she is truly the first in rank in the church
and the arm of the church
that provides its heart.
